FEC Might MoveOn to the Internet

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FEC Might MoveOn to the Internet

With political fund raising, campaign advertising and organizing taking place in full swing on the internet, it may just be a matter of time before the Federal Election Commission joins the action. Actually, that time may be now.

A recent federal court ruling says the FEC must extend some of the nation's new campaign-finance and -spending limits to political activity on the internet.

Long reluctant to step into online political activity, the agency is considering whether to appeal. But a vice chairwoman said the internet may prove to be an unavoidable area for the six-member commission, regardless of what happens with the ruling.

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Yahoo for money: Things are going so well for Yahoo these days that even some of its toughest competitors are helping to boost its profits.

After the stock market closed Tuesday,

Yahoo (YHOO) continued its recent streak of rising prosperity by reporting a third-quarter profit of $253.3 million, or 17 cents per share, up from net income of $65.3 million, or 5 cents per share, at the same time last year.

The results included a $191 million pretax windfall that Yahoo reaped by selling part of its stake in its rival, Google (GOOG), which completed a closely followed initial public offering in August. Many analysts regard Google as Yahoo's most formidable rival.

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Computer convenience: With a couple taps on the wireless device, a 7-Eleven store manager can place an order for the next day's sandwiches without ever leaving the aisle.

7-Eleven (SE), the nation's largest convenience-store chain, has tested the NEC computer in 10 Dallas-area stores and plans to outfit all 5,300 U.S. locations next year. Officials say it will reduce excess inventory and dramatically boost sales by eliminating one of retail's oldest curses – running out of hot-selling items.

Retailers in general – and convenience stores in particular – have been slow to adopt new technology, analysts say. Now, prompted by the example of Wal-Mart (WMT) and helped by the falling price of technology, they are playing catch-up.